Moulton stands firm as Pelosi stockpiles speaker endorsements

William J. Dowd wdowd@wickedlocal.com @WJD_MHDReporter

Tuesday

Nov 27, 2018 at 8:04 PMNov 28, 2018 at 8:16 AM

Rep. Seth Moulton's position on the need for new House leadership stands firm even as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi stockpiles endorsements from progressive organizations, prominent politicians, including President Barack Obama, and labor unions to reclaim the House speakership.

Congressman Seth Moulton continues not only to call for new congressional leadership but also stand firm on his pledge to vote against House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi come January.

“His position hasn’t changed,” said Moulton’s press secretary, Matt Corridoni, in a Tuesday interview. Asked if the Salem Democrat was open to a face-to-face discussion with Pelosi, Corridoni noted Moulton “wouldn’t turn down a meeting” if the minority leader extended an invitation.

Pelosi is poised to extend her 15-year tenure as the congressional leadership come Jan. 3, when the entire House votes on the next speaker. She needs to capture 218 members’ votes unless her opposition garners enough votes to block her from a second speakership.

As of Tuesday, 16 members have signed a letter pledging not to vote for Pelosi. The letter continues to be circulated among incoming and returning members.

Pelosi support grows

Moulton’s position stands firm even as Pelosi stockpiles endorsements from progressive organizations, prominent politicians, including President Barack Obama, and labor unions for the San Francisco Democrat to reclaim the House speakership.

Moulton’s stance on future party leadership has become the object of some of his constituents’ and fellow Democrats’ ire.

Some claim his arguments against re-electing the current leadership ring hollow and smack of ageism and sexism.

“Anyone who knows Seth knows that isn’t who he is,” said Corridoni.

Others have even threatened to try to primary Moulton in the 2020 state election if he continues to stir the opposition pot. His resistance is dividing the Democratic Party, they argue, when unity is needed in the aftermath of a blue wave.

Of the nine House members whom Massachusetts voters elected to the 116th Congress, Moulton and Congressman Stephen Lynch represent the sole dissenting votes against Pelosi.

'So much bigger than her'

Corridoni said the congressman never intended for the spotlight to be laser focused on Pelosi. He characterized Moulton’s arguments for new leadership as a debate that’s “bigger than an individual” and meant to be “a broader conversation.”

In a statement to the Associated Press, Moulton said he is seeking "a serious conversation about promoting leaders who reflect the future."

"This is so much bigger than her," Moulton continued. "It's about the entire, stagnant, three-person leadership team."

That team constitutes a septuagenarian trio: Pelosi and Reps. Steny Hoyer of Maryland and James Clyburn of South Carolina, whose re-elections as House Democratic leadership every two years has drawn frustration from Moulton.

From Moulton’s perspective, Corridoni said, “The Democratic House Caucus needs to build out a bench for new leadership.”

On her side, Pelosi also has another advantage: A challenger from the Democratic caucus has yet to step up. On this point, Moulton argues it will be more politically viable for speaker candidates to emerge if and when Pelosi concedes because she cannot muster the votes to reclaim the gavel herself.

Twin blows to the resistance

Early in the “new leadership” campaign, Moulton vocalized his support for Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, who was mulling a speaker run and whom he called “a mentor.”

Pelosi has since transformed Fudge into a supporter and promised the Ohio Democrat a committee chairmanship. She’s also persuaded opponents as well as on-the-fence members to back her with promises to undertake their legislative agendas in the 116th Congress.

“This deal-making and closed-door negotiation is exactly the thing people hate about D.C.,” said Corridoni. However, some counter argue Pelosi’s ability to scoop up endorsements and strike deals in exchange for speakership votes proves why she should wield the House of Representatives’ gavel.

Aside from Fudge, another blow to Moulton’s crusade came when two incoming, high-profile reps.-elect, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York -- both of whom embody the new progressive leadership that voters elected on Nov. 6 -- have announced support for Pelosi.

Ocasio-Cortez recently tweeted: "I hope that we can move swiftly to conclude this discussion about party positions, so that we can spend more time discussing party priorities."

Material from the State House News Service and Associated Press was used in this report.